My family's 48 hours in Oslo came with a familiar quandary: how to find activities that kids will enjoy in a European city.
The Norwegian capital made that easy.
There ahead of an expedition sailing in the country's far north, we wished we had more time to experience all that Oslo offers. Often overlooked even among its Nordic counterparts, it was easy to see why the city -- with its own take on Scandinavian design, impressive museums and unique experiences, not to mention its cooler temps -- is growing in popularity.
The first thing we did was purchase the Oslo Pass (around $75 per adult for two days). It not only covers use of the city's excellent public transportation system but admission to 30 museums and sights via a very intuitive and easy-to-use app.
The ship Fram is on display at the Fram Polar Exploration Museum in Bygdoy. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Visit Oslo
We used the Oslo Pass to take a fun ferry ride from the city center to Bygdoy, a peninsula that is home to five national museums in a forested setting offering trails, beaches and outdoor cafes. It was pouring rain, so we stayed indoors, mostly in what fast became my a 10-year-old's favorite museum, the Fram Polar Exploration Museum.
The museum is built around the actual Fram, which it claims is the strongest wooden ship ever built. Visitors can board the ship and go into its cabins, cargo hold and engine room where the crew -- and their dogs -- survived expeditions to the coldest and most remote places on Earth more than a century ago. Kids will also love the polar simulator -- it is very cold inside! -- as well as the igloo and the hunting simulator.
Another family-friendly area is Holmenkollen, about 30 minutes by train from the city center, where the city's famous ski jump tower is worth visiting just to look down from the top of an Olympic ski jump, which is much higher and steeper than it seems from ground level. The top also offers amazing views of Oslo and has a ski museum, which was closed for renovation during our visit but reopened in December for its 100th anniversary.
We went for the only-in-Oslo experience of taking a zipline 1,184-feet down that ski jump, a drop of more than 350 feet, a quick but thrilling experience. (The ski tower and museum are included in the Oslo Pass; the $65 zipline is not.)
Suiting up for the only-in-Oslo experience of ziplining down a ski jump, a 1,184-feet course with a drop of more than 350 feet. Photo Credit: Johanna Jainchill
I wasn't sure whether our kid would like the Munch Museum, which opened in late 2021, but I also felt that a visit to Oslo without seeing the world's largest collection of art by Norway's most famous artist, Edvard Munch, would be a mistake.
Luckily the museum has several interactive installations for kids, such as small peepholes in the same rooms as the masterpieces, which include "The Scream," that children can peek into to follow a story.
The Munch Museum, which opened in late 2021, has several interactive installations for children. Photo Credit: Johanna Jainchill
A-One accommodations
The Munch Museum is located on the Oslofjord waterfront, and it made up the view we had from the seventh-floor deck of the apartment we stayed in with A-One.
A new home rental company in Oslo, A-One marries spacious and beautiful apartments with high-end, hotel-quality amenities in Oslo's most desirable neighborhoods.
A-One launched in 2021 with a unique model: Unlike most home rental platforms, like Airbnb, A-One does not rent out people's homes; the apartments in its listings are used exclusively for short-term stays. They are also fully outfitted by A-One, from the furniture to the art and the amenities, such as bath products from Norwegian company Sprekenhus and linens from Rivolta Carmignani.
According to co-founder Eric Horne, A-One aims to provide a similar experience to a high-end hotel but in spacious accommodations. Touches include fresh flowers, a welcome bottle of wine and snacks from local providers.
Also central to A-One's philosophy is promoting wellness, from providing healthy snacks and drinks (such as Eira water, sourced from a Norwegian fjord) to a partnership with Oslo Hiking to encourage guests to enjoy Oslo's natural areas and an emphasis on sleep with high-quality beds and Dyson air diffusers in the bedrooms.
The service provided is also on level with high-end hotels. We were met at check-in by an A-One team member, and the company provides concierge services and housekeeping throughout. The concierge can help arrange services, including airport transfers and tickets to events, or provide personal shoppers, private guides, chefs and bartenders. Need a restaurant recommendation? It's a text message away.
Our modern apartment, called Dance of Life, was gorgeously outfitted while being very comfy and perfect for a family, with a spacious living area, two bedrooms and multiple bathrooms. Located in the hip and central Bjorvika district, it was walking distance to the Opera House, a collection of waterfront saunas and plenty of restaurants and bars.
A-One pays commissions of 15% to 20%.